SPIRITUAL MATURITY IS...
July 9, 2000 PM
Sermon Outline
Phil 3:15-17
INTRO: Because of the things Paul has written from verse 12 through our text this evening, I wonder if there may not have been some disciples either in Philippi or in the knowledge of the Philippian church which were a little swelled up with their own importance. Perhaps they had been disciples longer than others and were lording it over their brethren younger in Christ. Perhaps they were Jewish Christians who felt themselves just a little further along than the Gentile Christians. Whatever the case may have been, there are some excellent thoughts in our text about what mature discipleship really is. Spiritual maturity is...
I. IN KNOWING WE HAVE NOT BECOME PERFECT (3:15a)
A. Between v. 15 and v. 12 seems to be a conflict
1. but v. 12 speaks of that divine dissatisfaction with progress...v.15 explains that real maturity is in knowing there is growing to do
2. certainly maturity is a goal which seems to be further away the closer we get...maturity in Christ is lifetime process
B. Think of some points in which growth continues
1. 1 Thes 3:12 in love...and the many elements of it
2. 2 Cor 8:7 in giving...as we constantly reorder our priorities
3. 2 Pet 3:18 in knowledge...the real wisdom of our lives is in the treasure of Gods word
4. Phil 1:9,10 in discernment...which really is the result of growth in other spheres
II. IN ACCEPTANCE OF GODS WILL (3:15b)
A. Isnt this really a problem area for most of us?
1. God reveals His will in His word
2. and, really, such a vast array of subjects is treated therein
3. but what will we do with the subject matter? this is the issue
B. Lets mention just three possibilities
1. outright disobedience...not a comfortable response most if us would rather avoid this
2. grudging acceptance ... Ill do it ... but not like it
3. Ps 40:8 willing, cheerful acceptance which knows it is not only right ... but best and wants the best
III. IN AN ORDERLY WALK (3:16a)
A. The word walk is not the ordinary word for walking
1. this one means to go in a row, to go in order ...to follow a prescribed path ... to walk along a line
2. thus, we find more evidence that discipleship is not ones doing his own thing it is not life in the wild
B. The basis of the structure is, of course, the word
1. this does not produce mindless robots in lockstep!
2. but it does produce a pattern of life which is predictable because the same rule is applied by all disciples maturity is in our accepting that structure in our lives which keeps our lives from inner turmoil and sin (Gal 5:25 with Rom 8:6b)
IV. IN CONCERN FOR UNITY WITHIN THE BODY(3:16b)
A. The church in Corinth was divided
1. its condition was obvious from almost word one
2. now, look at 1 Cor 3:1-3 and walk as men
B. Maturity is concerned for and promotes unity in the body
1. because the body cannot function with division because the existence of division reflects badly on Christ because division saps the strength of the body
2. I think a fellowship of minding the same thing would be such a sweet and powerful fellowship
V. IN WILLINGNESS TO BE AN EXAMPLE OF THE FAITH (3:17)
A. How willing are we to be an example for others ... to accept the fact that others are following in our footsteps?
1. this verse indicates that Paul and others of the church in the church in Philippi were willing
2. but an important point ... 1 Cor 11:1
B. There is a great responsibility here - Heb 13:7
1. obviously, highly visible disciples must feel the weight of that responsibility (1 Tim 4:12) ... yet, all of us are an example to someone
2. can your example be followed safely to heaven?
CLOSE: In such a few words Paul has left us some sobering things about which to think. Maturing spiritually will make better, more useful people of us!
Cecil A. Hutson
09 July 2000